Bumper for motor vehicles



April 21, 1931. J. SCHULMAN BUMPER FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed 13, 1 2Sheets-Sheet l mu a w. T & a 8 x c f QT M|||\ K a 3 3 3 5 mm 8 R\ f E? W4 1L l. mm PM? NM mu! 5 r 9 H m P1! I I: a 2 Jun.

INVENTOR BY ATTORNEYS A 003E, scHl/LMAN [5% MW April 1931- J. SCHULMANBUMPER FOR MQTOR VEHICLES Filed Aug. 13, 1930 2 sh'efis-sheet 2 INVENTOBY ATTORNEYS J0$PH SC/ll/LMA/V- 6% 9. flat/L Patented Apr. 21, 1931 HUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOSEPH SCHULMALN, F BROOKLYN, NEW YORKBUMPER FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Application filed August 13, 1930. 'Serial No.474,889.

This invention relates to bumpers for 1110- showing particularly themanually operated tor vehicles and more particularly to side mechanismwhich actuates the bumpers. bumpers for such vehicles movable, at theFigure 3 is a transverse sectional view instance of the operator, from aprotective through the longitudinal side frame member 5 position to aposition permitting ingress to of the chassis and showing particularlythe 55 and exit from the vehicle. manner in which the side bumper isoperated One object of the invention is the provision and supported, thebumper being shown in of a side bumper which has the mechanical positionto protect the side of the car. strength to resist the shock of impactin the Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, but 22.6 event ofcollision. Accordingly, the bumper showing the bumper on the other sideof the 69 is supported directly from the chassis frame. vehicle, ininoperative position so that en- Another object of the invention is theprotrance may be gained to the car. vision of a bumper disposed alongthe run- Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, the longining board or stepto protect the side of a tudinal side frame members of the vehiclevehicle, which bumper is movable from door chassis are shown at and 11,respectively, protecting position to one in which it does the vehiclebody, fenders and wheels which not interfere with the use of the step inenterform no part of the present invention being ing or leavingthevehicle. 7 In accordance shown in dot and dash lines to indicate thewith this aspect of the invention, the side relative position of theparts and, therefore, 2 bumper ismovable to a position in which it noreference characters have been applied lies substantially in the planeof the step. thereto. Supported in usual manner from The invention alsoseeks a side bumper the vehicle, as by a frame member 12, is the whichis practical from the standpoint of step or running board indicated oneach side ease and cheapness of manufacture, pracofthe vehicle at 13. Amovable protective ticability of installation and convenience in elementor side bumper takes the form of a use. The bumper comprises generallyabar bar shown above the step on each side in carried by arms extendingfrom a rock shaft Figures 1 and 2 at 14 and 15, respectively. turning inbrackets secured to the chassis Forwardly of the movable bars 14 and 15,frame, the rock shaft being rotated by means the vehicle is providedwith stationary side 33 of a bevel gear connection from a pointwithbumper bars 16, which are supported by outin the vehicle between twoextreme positions, wardly extending frame members or braces i. e., thatin which the bumper is before the 17 at the rear ends of the bars 16,and braces door and that in which it is below the door. 18atthe forwardends of th se bars, the braces In protective position, the bumper isbraced being secured directly to the chassis; It is by auxiliary shockreceiving elements which to be noted that the stationary bars 16 aretransmit the force of impact directly to the disposed in substantiallythe same horizontal chassis. and vertical planes as the movable sideThese and other objects of the invention bumper bars 1i and 15, butbeing disposed and the means for their attainment will be forwardly ofthe vehicle entrance, they need 49 more apparent from the followingdetailed not be movable and hence are carried by the description, takenin connection with the acimmovable brackets. They extend just companyingdrawings, illustrating one emslightly forward of the rearwardly andbodiment by which the invention may be downwardly extending portions ofthe front realized, and in which l fenders. The movable bars 14 and ex-Figure 1 is a view in side elevation showtend rearwardly from the rearends of the 9 ing the side bumper in operative or protecstationary bars16 and preferably overlap tive position, the outline of the vehiclebeing the forwardly and downwardly extending indicated in dot and dashlines. portions of the rear fenders.

Figure 2 is a plan view of a vehicle chassis Referring now to Figure 3,it will be seen to which the side bumpers are applied and that the sidebumper bar 14 is reenforced by releasable pawl a longitudinallyextending reenforcing member angularly'disposed with respect to the belet and to which the operating arms 21 are secured. hose arms arefixedly mounted on a rock shaft 22 and protrude through apertures 12 inthe frame member. 12 extending longitudinally of the vehicle, outwardlyof and jus below the longitudinal side frame member 10 from which it issupported by the brackets 23. The brackets 23 are formed at their upperend with a base or flange 24 adapted to be riveted, bolted, welded orotherwise rigidly secured directly to the side frame member 10. At theirlower ends each bracket is formed, as shown, with a hearing 2? for therock shaft 22. There is one of these brackets 23 on each end of the rockshaft 22. Also extending out vardly from I the chassis'and in ahorizontal direction are spaced braces 25 whose outer ends lie'in aninclined plane, as at 26, for engagement, say, by the reenforcingbar 20when thebumper bar is in elevated position. Thus any blow or shockreceived by the bar 14 is transmitted directly from the side bumperconstruction to the "braces 25 and through the braces 25 directly to theframe member 10, the arm 21 and bracket 23, of course, also transmittingsome. of the shock, but again to the chassis member lO. Near therearward end of the rock shaft and in the same plane thereof is ahorizontally disposed stud shaft mounted in a suitable bearing 31aiiiiced to the chassis member 10 and having atiixed thereon outwardlyof the bearing 31, an arm which extends upwardly for conned tion by alink 33 with a 'dmvnwardly extending arm 3% fixed on a cross shaft 35.This cross shaft 35 may, if desired, extend from side to side of thevehicle and be suitably journaled, say on the chassis, in suitablebearin'gs, such as shown at 36. The shaft is rotated by means of thehand lever 37 which is adjustable in position as by the manually 3Sengaging the, toothed quadrant The outer en d of the stub shaft isprovided with a bevel gear 40 adapted to mesh with another bevel gear llon the rock shaft 22.

Thestructure on the opposite of the vehicle is identical with'that justdescribed and may, if desired, be operated from the same cross shaft 35,and similar reference characters have been afhxed thereto save only thebumper bar which is designated 15 for convenience in description.

When the bumper bar M is in protective position in front of the door asshown in FigureB, and it is desired to enter or leave the vehicle,mowement of the hand lever 38 to draw the link 33 forwardly will causethe rotation of the stub shaft "30 and with it the bevelgear it), whichin turncauSes the rtation of'the bevel gear ll and rock shaft 22 i inaeounter-clockwise direction, as viewed in FigureB, to rotate the arm 21downwardly until the reenforcing member 20 lies substantially in theplane of the step or running board 13 as shown in Figure 4, and thebumper bar 15 is below the door. Un-

obstructed entrance'or exitis facilitated.

The bumpersupporting arms 21 being spaced from one another on oppositesides in the event of collision, it can be readily moved out of the waywhen a door is to be used. V

While a hand operated lever 37 is illustrated as the bumper operatinginstrumen- 'tality', it will be obvious that foot operated means iswithin the purview of the invention and the term manually operated meansis intended to include any'mea'ns actuated by the vehicle operaton.There has. also been illustrated a vehicle having but a single entrancedoor, but it will "be apparent that the invention is equally applicableto a vehicle with a plurality of doors in each side'of the body, thespace to be protected determining the length of the bumper bar'and rookshaft, and, if necessary, the number of supporting arms and rock shaftbearing brackets. I

Various modifications will occur to those skill'ed'in the art in theconfiguration and disposition of the componentelements going to make upthe invention as a whole as'wellas in the selection and/or combinationof the several features, some of which are capable of use independentlyof others an'dno -l'imi'- tation is intended bythe phraseology of the 7and means to move the pivoted means about its pivot to move the bumpermeans between two extreme positions.

3. A. movable side-bumperfor a vehicle, comprising, in combination,bumper means, pivoted means supporting the bumper "means and manuallyoperable means to move the oivoted means about its ivot' to move thebumper means between two extreme pos1- tions. l i

tion.

4. A movable side bumper for a vehicle, comprising, in combination,bumper means, pivoted means supporting the bumper means and means tomove the pivoted means about its pivot to move the bumper means betweentwo extreme positions and bracing means for the bumper means in oneposition.

5. A movable side bumper for a vehicle, comprising, in combination,bumper means, pivoted means supporting the bumper means and manuallyoperable means to move the pivoted means about its pivot to move thebumper means between two extreme positions and bracing means for thebumper means in one position.

6. In a vehicle having a chassis, in combination, side bumper means,rotatable means carried by the chassis, means carried thereby supportingthe bumper means, and means to rotate the rotatable means to move thebumper means between two extreme positions.

7. In a vehicle having a chassis, in combination, side bumper means,rotatable means carried by the chassis, means carried thereby supportingthe bumper means, and manually operable means to rotate the rotatablemeans to move the bumper means between two extreme positions.

8. In a vehicle having a chassis, in combination, side bumper means,rotatable means carried by the chassis, means carried thereby supportingthe bumper means, and means to rotate the rotatable means to move theand to brace the bumper means in one posi- 9. A movable side bumper fora vehicle, comprising, in combination, a bracket carried by the chassis,a rock shaft journaled in the bracket, an arm fixed on the rock shaft, abumper bar carried by the arm and means to rotate the rock shaft to movethe bumper bar from a position in front of a vehicle door to a positiontherebelow.

10. A movable side bumper for a vehicle, comprising, incombination, abracket carried by the chassis, a rock shaft journaled in the bracket,an arm fixed on the rock shaft, a bumper bar carried by the arm andmanually operable means to rotate the rock shaft to move the bumper barfrom a position in front of a vehicle door to a position therebelow,

11. A movable side bumper for a vehicle,

' comprising, in combination, a bracket carried by the chassis, a rockshaft journaled in the bracket, an arm fixed on the rock shaft, a bumperbar carried by the arm, means to rotate the rock shaft to move thebumper bar from a position in front of a vehicle door to a positiontherebelow and bracing means carried by the chassis for the bumper barin the first named position.

12. In a vehicle having a chassis, in combination, brackets carried bythe chassis, a

rock shaft journaled in the brackets, arms fixed on the rock shaft, abumper carried on the arms, a stub shaft, driving means between the stubshaft and rock shaft, an arm on the stub shaft and manually operablemeans connected with the arm to rotate the shafts and move the bumperbetween two extreme positions.

13. In a vehicle having a chassis, in combination, brackets carried bythe chassis, a rock shaft journaled in the brackets, arms fixed on therock shaft, a bumper carried on the arms, a stub shaft, driving meansbetween the stub shaft and rock shaft, an arm on the stub shaft andmanually operable means connected with the arm to rotate the shafts andmove the bumper between two extreme posi' tions and a brace for thebumper in one position.

14. In a vehicle having a chassis, in com bination, brackets carried bythe chassis, a rock shaft journaled in the brackets, arms fixed on therock shaft, a bumper bar carried by the arms, a reenforcing bar for thebumper bar carried with the arms, a stub shaft carried by the chassis,interengaging gearing on the stub shaft and rock shaft, respectively, anarm fixed on the stub shaft, a cross shaft, manually operable means torotate the cross shaft, an arm fixed on the cross shaft, and a linkbetween the extremity of the last named arm and the extremity of the armon the stub shaft whereby the several shafts may be rotated to move thebumper bar between two extreme positions and a brace carried by thechassis and engaged by the bumper bar in one position.

15. In a vehicle having a chassis in combination brackets carried by thechassis, a rock shaft journaled in the brackets, arms fixed on the rockshaft, a bumper bar carried by the arms, a reenforcing bar for thebumper bar carried with the arms, a stub shaft carried by the chassis, aworm gear I fixed on the stub shaft, a worm on the rock shaft with whichthe worm gear meshes, an arm fixed on the stub shaft, a cross shaft,manually operable means to rotate the cross shaft, an arm fixed on thecross shaft, and a link between the extremity of the last named arm andthe extremity of the arm on the stub shaft whereby the several shaftsmay be rotated to move the bumper bar between two extreme positions.

16. In a vehicle having a chassis, in combination, brackets carried bythe chassis, a rock shaft journaled in the brackets, arms fixed on therock shaft, a bumper bar carried by the arms, a reenforcing bar for thebumper bar carried with the arms, a stub shaft carried by the chassis, aworm gear fixed on the stub shaft, a worm on the rock shaft with whichthe worm gear meshes, an arm fixed on the stub shaft, a cross shaft,manually operable means to rotate the cross shaft, an arm fixed on thecross shaft, and a link between the extremity of the last named a'i'i'nand the extremity of theai'ni on the stub shaft whereby the severalshafts may be rotated to move the bumper bar between two extremepositions and a brace carried by the chassis and engaged by the bumpei'bar in one position; 7

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

' JOSEPH SCHULMAN.

n" pt)

